Substations Project Manager - Power Delivery - Remote

WSP USA; Minneapolis (MN); Remote; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

WSP USA seeks a Substations Project Manager to lead high‑voltage and extra‑high‑voltage substation projects across the United States, delivering technical leadership and expert project management from concept through energization.

You will oversee budgets, schedules, risk, QA/QC, safety, and client satisfaction in a power delivery environment, coordinating with engineering, procurement and construction teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Power Systems, Civil, or related).
• 7–10 years of post‑education project management experience delivering HV/EHV/substation or utility‑scale power delivery projects.
• Solid understanding of the project delivery lifecycle for electrical substations (engineering, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, energization).
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills with business acumen.
• Ability to coordinate resources, lead teams, and ensure QA/QC and safety compliance.

Responsibilities

• Oversee HV/EHV substation projects including budgets, labor hours, cost tracking, and QA/QC.
• Develop project proposals, cost estimates, scopes of work, and schedules for HV/EHV/T&D projects.
• Create work breakdown structures (WBS) and cost‑loaded project schedules.
• Ensure regulatory compliance and QA/QC plans are followed.
• Monitor earned value, cash flow, and budgeted margins across projects.
• Coordinate with procurement, engineering, and construction teams; manage subcontractors.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's Degree in Engineering

PMP certification

Tools

MS Project

MS Office

SharePoint

Job description

WSP is currently initiating a search for a Substations Project Manager for our Fort Worth, TX, Denver, CO, Boise, ID, St. Louis, MO, Kansas City, MO, Columbus, OH, Minneapolis, MN, Ann Arbor, MI offices, however, the selected candidate may work from any mutually acceptable location within the United States.

Be involved in projects with our Project Management Team and be a part of a growing organization that meets our clients' objectives and solves their challenges.

This Opportunity

Provides technical project supervision and leadership for high voltage (HV) and extra‑high voltage (EHV) electrical substation projects, delivering guidance across the administrative, commercial, and technical execution of assigned utility‑scale power delivery and substation projects in accordance with WSP's core values, utility contracts, and client scope of services. Manages the overall performance of assigned HV/EHV substation projects of moderate size and complexity and/or local to regional scope, including oversight of project financials, budgets, schedules, risk management, QA/QC, safety (OSHA/utility safety standards), and client satisfaction. Ensures full adherence to responsibilities throughout the substation project lifecycle, including proposal development, project startup and planning, detailed engineering coordination, procurement support, construction management, outage planning, testing, commissioning, energization, reporting, and project closeout, with deliverables meeting or exceeding corporate and client standards for safety, quality, schedule, profitability, and operational performance within a power delivery and electrical substation engineering environment.

As one of the world’s leading professional services firms, WSP now brings world‑class expertise in power delivery and project management with the recent acquisition of POWER Engineers, Inc. Our vision is to be the preeminent pure‑play global consulting firm for the world’s energy transition. And we need your help.

Your Impact

• Oversee and monitor cross‑functional engineering, design, and construction teams delivering high voltage (HV) and extra‑high voltage (EHV) electrical substation projects, including management of project budgets, labor hours, cost tracking, material and equipment quantities (transformers, breakers, protection & control, steel, foundations), deliverables, compliance documentation, and fulfillment of utility and EPC contractual obligations

• Play a contributing role in the development of HV/EHV substation project proposals, including cost estimates, scopes of work, project schedules, execution strategies, and resource plans for utility‑scale power delivery and transmission & distribution (T&D) projects

• Develop work breakdown structures (WBS) and cost‑loaded schedules for substation engineering, procurement, construction, outage planning, testing, commissioning, and energization activities

• Establish the level of technical and design review required for HV/EHV substation projects, selecting appropriately qualified substation, protection & control, civil/structural, and electrical engineering staff, and ensuring compliance with QA/QC plans, utility standards, and regulatory requirements

• Contribute to project margin analysis, establishment of margin targets, and development of risk registers and contingency plans for high‑risk utility and substation construction environments

• Coordinate and assist with the technical aspects of contract negotiation, presentation, and meetings

• Develop and update the Project Initiation/Setup Documentation including: Risk (REF/RMP), Project Management Plan (PMP), Project Quality Plan (QP), Project Safety (PSP), and Communications Plan as necessary

• Participate in project kick‑off meetings with key stakeholders

• Work collaboratively with Project Accounting to monitor and track earned value, cost performance, estimated time‑to‑completion, cash flow, invoicing, and budgeted margin across individual HV substation projects or portfolios of power delivery work

• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, scheduling (CPM), cost control, and change management for high voltage substation design and construction projects, including management of scope changes and claims

• Coordinate with area/technical managers to address project resource and subcontracting requirements in a timely manner

• Immediately communicate and elevate any project site Health & Safety or significant client issues to senior PM staff and leadership

• Participate in problem project reviews, providing input about root cause issues and potential solutions to leadership and other stakeholders

• Provide regular project reporting and updates to clients, technical area, and business unit managers, identifying any emergent issues with scope, risk, and/or budget

• Monitor accounts receivable (AR) and unbilled revenue, working to address issues as needed

• Work with the Procurement Department to closeout procurements and/or supplier agreements as appropriate

• Complete formal project closeout activities, along with conducting and documenting a lessons‑learned meeting with key project staff

• Exercise responsible and ethical decision‑making regarding company funds, resources and conduct, and adhere to WSP's Code of Conduct and related policies and procedures

• Perform additional responsibilities as required by business needs

Who You Are

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Power Systems, Civil), Engineering Technology, Science, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent experience within an A/E/C, utility, EPC, or power delivery engineering environment supporting HV/EHV substation projects

• 7–10 years of progressive post‑education experience in a project management role delivering high voltage (HV) and/or extra‑high voltage (EHV) electrical substation, transmission & distribution (T&D), or utility‑scale power delivery projects

• Demonstrated understanding of the project delivery lifecycle within the A/E/C industry, with a well‑defined background in project management for electrical substation engineering, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and energization

• Well‑developed analytical and organizational skills, with business acumen to bridge the business and project management

• Competent critical‑thinking and problem‑solving skills, including the ability to assess technical, schedule, cost, and risk impacts using established project management principles to achieve optimal outcomes on complex HV/EHV substation projects

• Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills when interacting with others, expressing ideas effectively and professionally

• Demonstrated self‑leadership and accountability, with strong attention to detail, ability to multi‑task across concurrent HV substation projects, and adaptability in a fast‑paced power delivery environment

• Ability to work independently with minimal oversight, while providing guidance and leadership to junior project managers, engineers, and technical staff, with strict adherence to QA/QC processes, utility standards, and corporate quality systems

• Competent with technical writing, office automation, relevant software, MS Office suite products (e.g., Word, Excel, Visio, Project, SharePoint), technology, spreadsheets, and PM tools

• Demonstrated effectiveness at coordinating resources and assertively directing consultants, suppliers, subcontractors, and others to complete tasks competently and efficiently

• Proven track record of upholding workplace safety and ability to abide by WSP's health, safety and drug/alcohol and harassment policies

• Ability to work schedules conducive to project‑specific requirements that may extend beyond the typical workweek

• Occasional travel may be required depending on project‑specific requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Engineering

• Essential project management certification required (e.g., PMP)

WSP Benefits:

WSP provides a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career. These benefits include coverage related to medical, dental, vision, disability, and life; retirement savings; paid sick leave; paid vacation (or other personal time); paid parental leave; and paid time off for purposes of bereavement, voting, and/or attendance at naturalization proceedings.

Compensation:

Expected Salary (all locations): $110,000-160,000

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and offer for this position, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

Expected Salary (Colorado only): $110,000-160,000

WSP USA is providing the compensation range that the company in good faith believes it might pay and/or offer for this position within the state of Colorado, based on the successful applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities in addition to internal equity and specific geographic location. WSP USA reserves the right to ultimately pay more or less than the posted range and offer additional benefits and other compensation, depending on circumstances not related to an applicant’s sex or other status protected by local, state, and/or federal law.

About WSP

WSP USA is the U.S. operating company of WSP, one of the world's leading engineering and professional services firms. Dedicated to serving local communities, we are engineers, planners, technical experts, strategic advisors and construction management professionals. WSP USA designs lasting solutions in the buildings, transportation, energy, water and environment markets. With more than 15,000 employees in over 300 offices across the U.S., we partner with our clients to help communities prosper.

www.wsp.com

WSP provides a flexible and agile workplace model while meeting client needs. Employees are also afforded a comprehensive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, disability, life, and retirement savings focused on providing health and financial stability throughout the employee’s career.

At WSP, we want to give our employees the challenges they seek to grow their careers and knowledge base. Your daily contributions to your team will be essential in meeting client objectives, goals and challenges. Are you ready to get started?

WSP USA (and all of its U.S. companies) is an Equal Opportunity Employer Race/Age/Color/Religion/Sex/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/Disability or Protected Veteran Status.

The selected candidate must be authorized to work in the United States.

NOTICE TO THIRD PARTY AGENCIES:

WSP does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters, employment agencies, or other staffing services. Unsolicited resumes include any resume or hiring document sent to WSP in the absence of a signed Service Agreement where WSP has expressly requested recruitment/staffing services specific to the position at hand. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers or other business leaders, will become the property of WSP and WSP will have the right to hire that candidate without reservation – no fee or other compensation will be owed or paid to the recruiter, employment agency, or other staffing service.